Ceiling panel suspension means



N. W- GRAVENOR CEILING PANEL SUSPENSION MEANS May 18, 1965 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Sept. 12, 1963 ENTOR! Nevins w. Gnvavon i a "mm- 2 y 18, 1965 N. w. GRAVENOR 3,184,017

CEILING PANEL SUSPENSION MEANS 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Sept. 12, 1963 R O T N E V N I NEVILLE WGRAvENO 63 Tro RN 5) United States Patent Ofiflce 3,184,017 Patented May 18, 1965 3,184,017 CEILING PANEL SUSPENSIQN MEANS Neville Whalley Gravenor, Epping, near Sydney, New South Wales, Australia, assiguor to Ashman & Hart Pty. Limited, Artarmon, near Sydney, New South Wales, Australia 9 Filed Sept. 12, 1963, Ser. No. 308,577 Claims priority, application Australia, Sept. 24, 1962, 22,449/ 62 8 Claims. (Cl. 189-88) This invention relates to room ceilings of the kind comprising a plurality of panels suspended from an overhead structure.

For the most part such panels consist of pressed metal, plaster, board or other tiles, but light fittings, ventilator grilles and other ceiling elements may also be included in the ceiling and suspended from the overhead structure, thus the term panel as used hereinincludes all such elements within its scope.

Hitherto, the suspension means for ceiling panels have frequentlyconsisted of spring clips on the panels, adapted to engage with flanges, headings or like formations on bearers which are themselves suspended from above by way of hanger bolts, straps or otherwise. To enable the panel to be removed from below the spring clips are such that they disengage from the bearers if the panel is pulled down. Thus the grip on the bearer depends entirely on the resilience of the clip, and any loss of resilience may allow the panel to fall, or at best its support is insecure.

As an alternative to the use of spring clips it has been proposed to provide bearers .having flanges below the panels on which the panels sit. This expedient is not wholly unsatisfactory but if, as is usually the case, support flanges are provided for all four margins of a panel it is difiicult to insert or remove the panel from below. Moreover, it is often preferred to have a ceiling in which the panels abut one another so that no support means are visible from below.

The object of the present invention is to provide ceiling panel suspension means which enable the panels to be installed from below (as for the knownspring clip type of suspension) but which provides for the positive retention of the panel until such time as its removal is deliberately effected from below. p

The invention consists in suspension means for suspending a ceiling panel from an overhead support comprising a mounting element on or fixable tothe panel, a hook 'pivotally mounted on said element, and abutment means limiting pivotal movement of the hook in one. direction and thereby defining an operative position for the hook wherein, in use, one end of the hook engages over said support; the pivot axis being so placed with regard to the said one end that when the hook is in or near its operativeposition upward loads on said one end tend to swing the hook in said one direction, and the said one end of the hook being shaped such that the hook may be swung in the opposite direction clear of the said support should the panel be raised.

By way of example an embodiment of the invention is described hereinafter with reference to the accompanying drawings.

FIG. 1 is a side elevation of a suspension means according to the invention.

FIG. 2 is an end. elevation of the means of FIG. 1 and showing a panel supported thereby.

FIG. 3 is a sectional view taken on line 3-3 of FIG. 1 but including the panel of FIG. 2. V

FIG. 4 is a side elevation of portion of the suspension means of FIG. 1 shown in the operative position.

FIG. 5 is a view. similar to FIG. 4.,showing the means in another position. r

FIG. 6 is a view similar to FIGS. 4 and 5 showing the means disengaged from an overhead support.

FIG. 7 is a perspective View of the hook component of the suspension means illustrated in FIGURES 1 to 6.

The suspension means illustrated by the drawings herewith comprise a mounting element 8 adapted to be fixed to a ceiling panel 9 for the support thereof. The mounting element 8 is a sheet metal pressing or the like and comprises a hook mounting flange 1t and a panel engaging flange 11. The flange 11 is adapted to be inserted into a groove in one edge of the panel 9. The mounting element 8 preferably has a second panel engaging flange 12 punched from the flange 10. In use the flange 12 bears resiliently upon the upper surface of the panel 9 and thus ensures that the panel 9 is securely fixed to the element 8.

A hook 13 is pivotally mounted on the mounting element 8 by means of a through rivet 14 extending through the flange 10 and through a mounting plate 15 integral with the hook 13.

The hook 13 is preferably a stamping of spring steel or other suitable resilient material, and comprise a shank 16, a prong 17, and a cantilever portion 18 extending integrally from the bottom of the shank 16 to an edge of the mounting plate 15.

In the resent instance the panel is to be hung from an inverted channel-sectioned bearer 19 having an upper fixing flange 20 on it and two shelf-like detents 21, one on each downwardly directed flange of the channel 19, and each being an overhead support as that term is used herein.

In FIG. 4 the hook 13 is shown in its operative position wherein the prong 17 is engaged over a detent 21. As the point of engagement of the prong 1'7 with the detent 21 is not vertically above the pivotal axis (which of course coincides with the centre line ofthe rivet 14) the weight of the panel 9 tends to rotate the hook 13 about that axis. Such rotation is prevented, however by abutment means comprising, for example, a lug 22 extending horizontally from the flange 10 which contacts an edge of the plate 15 so as to limit pivotal movement of the hook in an anti-clockwise direction (as seen in FIG. 4). The abutment means therefor define the operative position of the hook 113. When the panel 9 is being thrust into positionso that the suspension means shift from the position illustrated in FIG. 1 to that of FIG. 4'there is a downward force imposed on the prong 17 as it rides past the corresponding detent 21. In the present instance it will he noted that lateral movement of the suspension means of the panel relative to the bearer 19 is prevented by means of a guide slot 23 into which a bottom portion of one of the channel flanges of the bearer 19 enters. The downward force referred to above tends to cause the hook 13 to pivot in the opposite or clockwise direction which, if it occurred, would cause the prong 17 to move substantially outwardly of the panel 9 to a position (for example as shown in FIG. 5) in which it would be clear of the detent 21. In other examples of the invention such' pivotal movement may be restrained manually or otherwise but for preference it is prevented by restrain ing means, such as a friction washer on the rivet 14 between the flange 10 and the plate 15 or, more positively, by means of one or more complementary locking formations on the mounting plate and the supporting flange respectively.

In the illustrated example, the said restraining means comprise a small mound 24 on the flange 10 adapted to contact an edge of the plate 15 so as to prevent clockwise movement of the hook 13 until suflicient downwards force is-applied tothehook 13 to cause the plated-5 to spring sufliciently to ride overthe mound 24.

The ability of the hook 13 to rotate in a clockwise direction when the said restraining means are overcome enables the panel 9 to be removed from a ceiling from below. This is illustrated in FIGS. 5 and 6, FIG. 5 showing the hook 13 in its swung aside position as adopted when the panel 9 is manually raised so as to bring the cantilever portion 18 of the hook 13 into contact with the downwardly directed flange of the bearer 19. Once the hook has been swung aside as aforesaid the panel may be lowered as shown in FIG. 6. Vvhile it is greatly to be preferred that the overhead support contact the hook to swing it aside automatically when a panel is raised as described above, it will be appreciated that the invention may be used in conjunction with other types of bearer which do not have a suitable abutment surface above the hook. In that event the hook of the panel may be swung aside manually once the panel has been raised sufficiently to allow a hand to be inserted between the panel and its neighbor.

The plate 15 preferably has a finger tab 25 on it to facilitate the manual return of the hook to its operative position before replacement of the panel in the ceiling.

It will be appreciated that usually four suspension means as illustrated would be associated with any one panel in use. However, this is not necessarily so as it may be that only one edge of a panel is supported by suspension means according to the invention with an opposite edge of the panel supported by conventional means.

According to other examples of the invention a mounting element corresponding to the flange may be provided which is integral with or riveted or otherwise secured to a panel. In other examples of the invention a flange 10, or its equivalent, may be provided at each end of an angle sectioned beam or the like adapted to extend for substantially the full width of the ceiling panel as a supporting beam for one edge thereof.

Whereas the inverted channel sectioned bearer 19 is a preferred form of bearer it will be appreciated that suspension means according to the invention may be utilised in conjunction with any bearer having an upper face, or shelf-like detent upon which the prong of the hook may rest. In other examples of the invention the hook may be pivotally mounted upon mounting elements I mounted on said element; an abutment means limiting pivotal movement of the hook in one direction and thereby defining an operative position for the hook wherein the prong of the hook engages over said support and the pivot axis of said hook is so placed with regard to the said prong that, when the hook is in its operative position, an upward 7 force on said prong urges the hook into contact with said abutment while the said prong of the hook isso shaped that the hook may be swung away from said abutment to bring the'prong clear of said support should the panel be raised;

-2. Suspension means for suspending a ceiling panel from an overhead support comprising a mounting element on the panel having an upwardly directed flange; a hook comprising a prong pivotally mounted on said flange by means of a through rivet extending through said flange and through a mounting plate on said hook; an abutment means limiting pivotal movement of the hook in one direction and thereby defining an operative position for the hook wherein the prong of the hook engages over said support; the pivot axis of said hook is so placed with" regard to the said prong that when the hook is in its operative position an upward'force on said prong urges the hook into contact with said abutment while the said prong is so shaped that the ho k may be swung away from said abutment to bring the prong clear of said support, should the panel be raised.

3. Suspension means for suspending a ceiling panel from an overhead support comprising a mounting element on the panel having an upwardly directed flange; a hook comprising a prong pivotally mounted on said flange by means of a through rivet through said flange and through a mounting plate on said hook; an abutment means comprising a lug extending from said flange and adapted to contact one edge of said plate so as to limit pivotal movement of the hook in one direction and thereby define an operative position for the hook wherein the prong of the hook engages over said support; and the pivot axis of said hook is so placed with regard to the said prong that when the hook is in its operative position an upward force on said prong urges the hook into contact with said abutment while the said prong of the hook is so shaped that the hook may be swung away from said abutment to bring the prong clear of said support should the panel be raised. 7

4. Suspension means for suspending a ceiling panel from an overhead support comprising a mounting element on the panel; a hook comprising a prong pivotally mounted on said element; an abutment means limiting pivotal movement of the hook in one direction and thereby defining an operative position for the hook wherein the prong of the hook engages over said support; restraining means which oppose movement of the hook away from said abutment, but which may be overcome by manual pressure on the hook; and the pivot axis of said hook being so placed with regard to the said prong that when the hook is in its operative position an upward force on said prong urges the hook into contact with said abutment while the said prong of the hook is so shaped that the book may be swung away from said abutment to bring the prong clear of said support should the panel be raised.

'5. Suspension means for suspending a ceiling panel from an overhead support comprising a mounting element on the panel having an upwardly directed flange; a hook comprising a prong pivotally mounted on said flange by means of a through rivet extending through said flange and through a mounting plate on said hook; an abutment means limiting pivotal movement of the hook in one direction and thereby defining an operative position for the hook wherein the prong of the hook engages over said support; restraining means which oppose movement of the hook away from said abutment, but which may be overcome by manual pressure on the hook; and the pivot axis being so placed with regard to the said prong that when the hook is in its operative position an upward force on said prong urges the hook into contact with said abutment while the prong is so shaped that the hook may be swung away from said abutment to bring the prong clear of said support should the panel be raised.

6. Suspension means for suspending a ceiling panel from an overhead support comprising a mounting element on the panel having an upwardly directed flange; a hook comprising 2. prong pivotally mounted on said flange by means of a through rivet through said flange and through a mounting plate on said hook; an abutment means comprising a lug extending from said flange and adapted to contact one edge of said plate which limits pivotal movement'of the hook in one direction and thereby defines an operative position for the hook wherein the prong of the hook engages over said support; and restraining means which oppose movement of the hook away from said abutment, but which may be overcome by manual pressure on the hook; the pivot axis being so placed with regard to the said prong that when the hook is in its operative position an upward force on said prong urges the hook into contact with said abutment while the said prong of the book being shaped such that the hook may be swung 5 away from said abutment to bring the prong clear of said support, should the panel be raised.

7. Suspension means according to claim 5 wherein said restraining means comprise a mound on said flange over which said plate may ride.

8. Suspension means according to claim 6 wherein said restraining means comprise a mound on said flange over which said plate may ride.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,997,581 4/35 Heeren et a1. 189--85 6 Heeren et a1 189-85 Nold et a1. 18985 Walters 18988 Siering 20-4 Reiland 50-477 David et a1 18988 Houind 18988 Stanley 189-85 Forkin 50-3 96 RICHARD W. COOKE, JR., Primary Examiner.

CLAUDE A. LE ROY, Examiner. 

1. SUSPENSION MEANS FOR SUSPENDING A CEILING PANEL FROM AN OVERHEAD SUPPORT COMPRISING A MOUNTING ELEMENT ON THE PANEL; A HOOK COMPRISING A PRONG PIVOTALLY MOUNTED ON SAID ELEMENT; AN ABUTMENT MEANS LIMITING PIVOTAL MOVEMENT OF THE HOOK IN ONE DIRECTION AND THEREBY DEFINING AN OEPRATIVE POSITION FOR THE HOOK WHEREIN THE PRONG OF THE HOOK ENGAGES OVER SAID SUPPORT AND THE PIVOT AXIS OF SAID HOOK IS SO PLACED WITH REGARD TO THE SAID PRONG THAT, WHEN THE HOOK IS IN ITS OPERATIVE POSITION, AN UPWARD FORCE ON SAID PRONT URGES THE HOOK INTO CONTACT WITH SAID ABUTMENT WHILE THE SAID PRONG OF THE HOOK IS SO SHAPED THAT THE HOOK MAY BE SWUNG AWAY FROM SAID ABUTMENT TO BRING THE PRONG CLEAR OF SAID SUPPORT SHOULD THE PANEL BE RAISED. 